The 2013 Rapha Condor JLT team has been officially launched at the London offices of new sponsor Jardine Lloyd Thompson, an international group of risk specialists and employee benefits consultants; JLT have replaced co-headline sponsor Sharp after their decision to concentrate efforts at World Tour level (with Garmin-Sharp). The launch event was an opportunity for the Rapha Condor team to officially welcome new title sponsor to the team, as well as to introduce the full 2013 line up for the first time. The team’s commitment to the development of young British riders has clearly been re-emphasised in 2013, with the addition of no less than five fresh young riders to the team. Alongside the team’s stars, Olympian Ed Clancy and former National Road Race Champion Kristian House, the team will also field its youngest ever line up, including five under-23 riders – three of whom will be making their senior debut for the team.
Commenting on the ambitions to develop young riders, team manager John Herety said, ‘After a successful transition into a development team in 2012, we’ve taken on an even younger group of riders this year. Our ambition is to offer these riders the best possible platform to experience high level racing both at home and abroad to help them develop and put themselves in a position to move up through the sport.’ Pragmatic as ever, he added, ‘we will also of course be looking for results. Our main aims will be focused on the Tour of Britain and the Tour Series here in the UK, but we also have a busy calendar of international racing where I expect these riders to prove themselves in some highly competitive racing…’
The team’s European campaign starts next week with the Tour of Normandy (March 18-24).
